Another week of cracking photos and we have to thank Nick Watmough for providing the round up.

‘In a week dominated by waders St Gothian’s LNR was the place to be as the fabulous phalarope duo, Grey and Red-necked, stayed into Monday when a Snow Bunting was found nearby. For latecomers the Red-necked stayed all week before Storm Amy dumped a juvenile North American White-rumped Sandpiper on a nearby flash. The combination of confiding birds and an accessible site meant there were loads of quality images to choose from this week.

However, let’s start elsewhere and specifically at Chysauster Ancient Village where Malcolm Jones obtained some nice images of a ground feeding Wryneck. I also enjoyed John St Ledger’s photograph of two adult Turtle Doves with a juvenile at Brew farm Sennen – the rusty bar they are perched on accentuating the tones of the adults’ feathers. Aadil Khan provided a series of dramatic images of an Osprey fishing on the River Fal. Whilst my favourite passerine photograph of the week was Adrian Lea’s low light shot of a Meadow Pipit – a very underappreciated species.

There were some super wader images away from St Gothian’s including Tim Culmer’s Ruff on the Hayle and a Wadebridge Whimbrel photographed by Charles Davies. I was also very taken with Adrian Langdon’s eyelevel portrait of a juvenile Knot at Porthhilly Point. Oddly enough I recently discussed POTW adjudication with Adrian who told me he always looked for images he wished he had taken himself. Nice try Adrian – I did covet your Knot photograph, but there was one image this week that made me green with envy.

Back at St Gothian’s we had stunning Snow Bunting images from Tim Culmer, G Williams, and Martin Webb– even more remarkable as the poor bird was apparently regularly flushed by dog walkers. News of the White-rumped Sandpiper broke late on Saturday afternoon and Adrian Lea and Tony Wilson were quick enough off the mark to photograph it as the light was fading and taken together, they beautifully illustrate all the key identification features of this species in juvenile plumage. And of course, there were loads of great phalarope images with shout outs to Tim Culmer, Adrian Lea, C. Richards, G. Williams for their efforts. But there was one image that I really did wish I had taken myself. That is the spinning Grey Phalarope surrounded by water droplets take by Martin Webb – perfectly exposed and pin sharp from bill tip to tail end this image has everything; action, a hint of colour on the throat and a reflection of the bird in the undisturbed water – absolutely phab-u-lous’

Thanks Nick and congratulations to Martin for capturing the top spot.